Information about all people using health services can help plan and improve future services. This might be by looking at data about:
- who is using services. For example, looking at how many children are born to plan services for young people, or
- by doing research to develop new care and treatments.
By linking together small amounts of data from lots of patients, planners and researchers can look for patterns. This helps them identify ways to improve health and care services. The information is really valuable to help to:
- understand more about disease
- develop new treatments
- monitor safety
- plan services and
- see if NHS policy is working.
To carry out useful planning and research, it is important to ensure the data on everyone is accurate and complete. This video provides a short summary of why we need data from everyone and how large data sets are used. Find out more in the guide created by Understanding Patient Data available here.
We know from the Covid-19 pandemic that data saves lives.
NHS Research Secure Data Environment Network
The Thames Valley and Surrey Secure Data Environment (TVS SDE) is part of the NHS Research Secure Data Environment (SDE) Network and the wider Research Powered by Data programme, helping approved researchers access health and care data more quickly, securely and consistently.
The NHS Research SDE Network helps approved researchers access health and care data more quickly, securely and consistently. By enabling access to data within secure environments, the network supports research that improves patient care, treatments and health services.
Research supported through the SDE Network includes:
- Algorithm training and development
- Clinical trial activities, including feasibility, recruitment and follow-up
- Real world studies
- Translational research
- Epidemiological studies
- Health systems research
SDEs provide secure environments for approved researchers to access data for approved purposes. Access is only granted following appropriate review and approval processes. Data remains within the secure environment and is not copied or distributed to researchers.
The TVS SDE works as part of a national network of NHS Research Secure Data Environments, helping to provide a consistent approach to secure data access across England.
Find out moreLearn more about the national programmes and the role of TVS SDE:
Find out more about the Thames Valley & Surrey SDE:
Find out more about who is involved in the TVS SDE:
Useful Links:
